1650 Silver Hill Dr #1703
McLean, VA 22102

To say that this school isn't safe is an understatement. There are fights all the time (often in the boys' bathrooms where the school administration, teachers and Fairfax County Police Department SRO don't "sweep" due to "privacy concerns") and constant physical assaults against students. A teacher was even assaulted this year. This school, and FCPS in general, are so focused on the rights of the offenders and giving them multiple opportunities to correct their behavior that they don't care about, and frankly forget, the victim. Do you want your kid attending a school where it is routine for students who present a physical threat to their classmates to be walked from class to class by a staff member? Why aren't these offenders removed from Kilmer to be educated in a different environment in FCPS? I believe in the value of public schools, but this isn't what I want for my kids - or anyone else's kids. Any private school has to be better than this if you can afford it.In terms of learning, it's hard to do that as a student if you are in an environment where you are unsafe, isn't it? Instead, you're focused on who is going to assault you next - whether in class, in the cafeteria, in the hall, and whether it's safe to use the bathroom.With regard to Special Education, if your student has a 504 plan, most of what's included won't be implemented.It appears that not much has changed - despite a new Principal - since another parent/guardian left a review in 2019. My recommendations are (1) move to a different school boundary, (2) transfer to a private school, and (3) if (1) or (2) aren't options, request a transfer within FCPS to a different middle school.

During my time at the school, as an African American student, I have faced immense racism from students and from staff as well. Ranging from stereotypes to even the N-Word. Being that the school is around 6% black, if you are a black student I would likely avoid this school at all costs, because the staff will disregard your grievances regardless of the severity. Unsurprisingly, this school has the reputation in northern virginia of being the “racist school,” and even had news coverage on the racist allegations regarding the football team. Furthermore, the IB program at this school is honestly pretty bad, and I would recommend you go to a school with AP instead.

My child has been a part of Westbriar Elementary since their kindergarten days. Initially, we had wonderful experiences with the teachers. However, since the onset of Covid and some changes in administration, we've noticed a decline in the school's overall culture. My child often seeks help to address issues with their peers, but it seems like they're encouraged to find solutions on their own, and the school's support appears to be more about self-defense than genuine care for the children. Some teacher behaviors have been concerning, and I'm surprised to see certain individuals still working at the school without any apparent disciplinary actions.We really miss Mr. Sims-Smith, our former VP, who had a positive impact on our experience. There have also been reports of racism involving some children, and it's disheartening to hear about this issue persisting. Some of the school patrols come across as bullies rather than supportive figures.Since the pandemic, my once-outgoing child has developed severe anxiety, and we're slowly discovering the various ways in which the school environment may be contributing to it. Our simple request is for the school to prioritize the well-being of the children, address abusive behavior by teachers towards students, and consider hiring counselors who can provide genuine counseling support.